Teaching workshops in pastel painting techniques is very rewarding and keeps me involved exploring new techniques within this colorful and expressive medium. This is my seventh year teaching pastel workshops at Dakota Art Center, where I do two per year. An indoor beginning level each spring and another working with students on-site (en plein air) which is what I’ll be doing again September 22-24th in Washington State’s beautiful Skagit Valley. www.dakotaartcenter.com

This upcoming class has a full roster, with one student coming all the way from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have done many others for the past twelve years, here in the islands, where I live and invitational classes all around the U.S. and Europe. One of the joys of traveling and painting is having an opportunity to explore some pretty exotic painting sites and working with other artists who share a passion for learning.

Whether I’m teaching in Croatia, Belgium, Missouri or the nearby Skagit Valley, there is still something magical about stepping right out my front door and painting in the San Juan Islands! Pictured here is a painting I did just two weeks ago at a favorite site on Lopez Island, Fisherman Bay Peninsula Preserve.

I will end my teaching year with a 2 day beginning level pastel painting technique class at Winslow Art Center, December 3-4 on Bainbridge Island near Seattle. For a full class description and to register go to www.winslowartcenter.com